Emporia Fire Department doing water rescue training today

EMPORIA (KSNT) - The Emporia Fire Department (EFD) is conducting water rescue training Tuesday.

The EFD announced the training on social media. They said residents should expect an increased presence of emergency vehicles in the area of Sodens Grove. The fire department said these training exercises are crucial to stay prepared for real-life emergencies.

The EFD is asking residents to avoid the training area.

27 News spoke to Emporia Fire Department Battalion Chief Ryan Conley about the training. He said the city has a water rescue team of 10 to 15 people who are trained to be 'swift water rescue technicians'. He said the team must do a week-long class with a classroom portion and a hands-on portion.

"When we get our first heavy rain and the water comes up we like to get our water rescue team on the water, we kind of take advantage of it when it does..." Conley said. "Good safe conditions for us to be in the water, so we’re definitely going to be on the water."

On Monday, the EFD and Lyon County Sheriff's Office had to rescue a man who got stuck in floodwater at the Cottonwood River. On arrival, first responders found a truck stuck with water up to its hood. A water rescue team was deployed to rescue the driver.

“The river is expected to rise above flood stage late this evening to a crest of 25.5 feet early Wednesday morning,” NOAA reported. “It will then fall below flood stage Wednesday afternoon.”

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.